Cam cleat



United States Patent ()fiice 2,836,870 Patented June 3, 1958 CAM CLEAT Philip B. Shea, Akron, Ohio Appiication lvlay 13, 1954, Serial No. 429,500

4 Claims. (Cl. 24-134) This invention relates to line securing mechanisms and in particular relates to a line securing mechanism having particular utility on sailing craft.

In the crafts employed for sailing purposes, such as a snipe boat, the propulsion of the boat across the Water results from the action of the wind upon the sails of the boat in a manner well known. Because the direction of travel of the boat is directly affected by the angle at which the wind strikes the sails, it is manifest that these sails must be shiftable to take fullest advantage of the wind. To this end, snipe" boats have been provided with a main sail and a jib sheet, both of which can be positioned in various locations thereby controlling the direction of travel of the boat.

Without going into detailed construction of the jib sheet, it suihces to say that the same must be able to be relatively positioned on either the port or starboard side of the boat in order to take fullest advantage of the wind. This flexibility is obtained by providing the trailing edge of the jib sheet with a pair of line members which generally extend in opposite directions to the port and starboard sides of the boat, respectively, in a manner well known in the prior art. These respective lines are passed through fair leaders are then positioned in the center of the boat adjacent the usual center board for ready use.

During the sailing operation, it is apparent that only one of these lines can be used atany one given time. For example, if the jib sheet is positioned to the port side of the boat to take fullest advantage of the wind, the line leading toward the port side of the boat will be used to restrict the amount of port movement of the jib sheet, thus preventing the sails from being overextended to the port. it may be desired to take in the sail, and in this event, the port line will be drawn up through the port fair leader until the requisite condition is obtained. If it is then desired, during the period of sailing, to change the position of the jib sheet, the port line thereof will be released whereupon the jib sheet will, by its own forces, shift to the starboard side of the boat. In this new position the jib sheet will be held against extreme starboard movement by use of the starboard line that operates through the starboard fair leader. 1

Because the port and starboard lines converge in approximately the center of the boat, through the medium of the port and starboard fair leaders, respectively, it has heretofore been considered mandatory to use a separate line clamping device for each line. This is true because the starboard line, for example, must be controlled by the line clamping device to prevent movement of the starboard line therethrough in a generally starboard direction. This line clamping device for the starboard line must, however, permit free movement of the starboard line to the port for the purpose of taking in the jib sheet. It is obvious that this just described line clamping device could not effectively be used in conjunction with the port line because the proper use of the port line dictates that the same be prevented from-having port movement while being permitted starboard movement. This requirement is the direct opposite of the requirement for the use of the starboard line and accordingly, separate line clamping devices have been employed in the past.

It is one object of this invention to provide a line engaging member having a plurality of cam surfaces thereon that are operable to properly control the movement of the port and starboard lines leading from the jib sheet of a snipe boat.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a line clamping device that is equally operable with regard to the port or starboard lines of a jib sheet of a small craft sailing vessel.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following brief specification considered in the light of the accompanying drawings. 7

Of the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the preferred form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing a port line being maintained in a taut position.

Figure 3 is a top plan View partly broken away and a section showing a starboard leader line being held in taut position.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the lines 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the clamping device is shown in Figure 2 as engaging a line 1%, to restrict the movement thereof in a manner to be described. In useage, for example, on a sailing boat (not shown), the clamping device would be positioned centrally thereof, and the top portion of Figure 2 would be forward, While the lower half is aft; thus the line 10, of Figure 2 would approach the port side of the clamping device and will hereinafter be designated a port line. By like token, the line 10a, of Figure 3, approaches the clamping device from the starboard side and is accordingly designated herein as starboard line 10a.

The clamping device of Figures 1 to 4 of the drawing is illustrated as comprising a base member 11, having pivoted thereto, a cam member that is generally designated as 12, the arrangement being such that a line member is restricted to unidirectional movement when placed between the base member 11, and the cam member 12, in a manner to be described.

To this end, the base member is shown as including a substantially rectangular shaped plate 13, that has adjacent corners thereof provided with perpendicularly extending lug members 14 and 15, which lug members include somewhat rounded face areas 14a, 15a, respectively, against which are received the line members 10, 19a. Located on one center line of the plate 13, and being shown spaced equidistant from the lugs 14, 15, is a perpendicularly extending stud 16, that has a tapped aperture 17, and a pair of tabs 18, 13, for facilitating reception of the cam member 12, with respect to the base member 11. The usual apertures 19, 19, are shown countersunk as at 19a, to receive screws for attaching the plate 13, to the deck of a sailing vessel, for example:

The cam member 12, which is relatively movable with respect to the base member 11, is of a non-circular configuration and includes arcuate serrated surfaces 20 and 21 that are connected by convergent side surfaces 20a, and 21a; arrangement being such that these serrated surfaces 20 and 21 will be eccentrically moved about the stud 16 as a result of the cam 12 being pivotally journalled about stud 16 in the area of convergence of side surfaces 20a and 210. As is best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the

- direction opposite to the direction of surfaces 20, 21, 20a, and 21a, are preferably inclined or V (cam member 12) is provided with an enlarged cavity 22. on the underside thereof." One wall 23 of this cavity (see,

Figure 4) defines tab members 24, 24 that'are similar in construction to the tabs18; 18 that 'have been previously described in connection with the base member 11 In this regard, the tabs 24, 24 will-receive therebetween as shown in Figures 3 and 4, one end 31 of a coil spring 30 that is positioned within the cavity 22 as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The remaining end 32,"of coil spring 39, is positioned between the tab members 18, 18, of the base member 11, and this positioning of thecoil spring 30, as described, causes tensional influenceto be exerted when the cam member 12, is moved out of its normal, centrally located position, to the position of either Figure 2 or 3, for example. In both of these positions (Figures 2 and 3) the cam member 12, is under tensional influenceto' return to a centrally disposed position with respect to the base member 11. It is manifest that a leaf spring could be utilized in lieu of the coil spring 30, with equal result, and also that the spring'ends 3'1, 32, could be secured to the base 11, and the cam member 12, in different ways than by the use of tabs 18, 18 and tabs 24, 24 that are illustrated. It is also important'to note that the pivotedmovement 'of the cam 12 about the stud 16, is limited by stops 2%, 21b, that are engaged Figure 3) v In use or operation of the improved device'in conjunction with Figure 2, for example, the port line 10, is merely slipped down between the space defined by the lug member 14, and the serrated edge 20,- of theeam member 12; In this position of the portline 10, movement in the direction of the arrow will cause the cam member 1 2, to pivot about the cylinder 16, against the force of the spring 30. As this pivotingmovement continues the distance between the serrated edge 20 and the lug member 14 will .be reduced to a point where the distance is less thanthe diameter of the line 10, with the result'that further movement of the line member in the direction of the arrow will be obviated. In Figure 2 the arrow is directed in a generally port direction. In this position, however, move-- mentof theport line 10 in a direction opposite to the,

arrow in Figure 2"(i. e. to the starboardfwill be permitted because the cam member 12, will be urged'towards its normal position by the spring 30, and thus the size of the opening between the lug '14, and the serrated sur-' face 20, is increased to the point where the distance approximates the diameter of the port line '10. Complete removal of the line from 'the engaged position of Figure 2 is eflrectuated by merely lifting the line vertically so as to: pull the same out-of the space defined by the lug 14, and

the serrated surface 20, the walls of the cam eleat being slightly inclined to facilitate such a removal (see Figure scribed in connection with Figure 2. As before, advancement of the line in the direction of the arrow of Figure 3 (towards the starboard) is limited bythe pivoting of the cam member 12, whilejrnovement of thej'line 10, in a the arrow (towards the port) is permittedl It will be seen from the foregoing that there has been provided a new and novel device, capable'of elfectuating by the tabs 18, 18 '(see' 4 a clamping action in opposite'directions upon the respective port and starboard lines provided on the jib sheet of a small craft sailing vessel.

Modifications of the invention such as design variations, 1 a

in the cam configuration or-change in materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A line clamping device of the character described 7 the apex thereof, whereby said arcuate portion thereof is pivotally disposed between said lug members; a pairof arcuately spaced line engaging surfaces provided on said arcuate portion of said cam member; and resilient means operable upon said cam member to centrally position said spaced line engaging surfaces thereof with respect tosaid' a respective line engaging surfaces of said lug member; said line engaging surfaces of said cam being located substantially equidistant from said pivot point, whereby selective movement of said cam member about said pivot point will decrease the distance between one line engaging surface of said cam member and one line engaging surface of said lug member. V

2. A line clamping device of the character described comprising; a pair of spaced'lug members, each provided I 1 with a line engaging surface; a cam member having an arcuate base portion and;being eccentrically pivoted about the apex thereof, whereby said arcuate portion thereof is pivotally disposed between said lug members; a pair of arcuately spaced line engaging surfaces provided on said arcuate portion of said cam member; and resilient means operable upon said cam member to' centrally position said spaced line engaging surfaces thereof with respect to said respective line engaging surfaces of said lug means; said line engaging surfaces of said cam being locatedfsubstantially equidistant from said pivot point, whereby selective movement of said Cam member about said pivot point will decrease the distance between one line engaging sur- 7 face of saidc'am member and one line engaging surface of said'lug member; said resilient means including .a spring member having one endzthere'of engageable with said cam member.

.3. A line'clamping device of the character described comprising; a rectangular: plate'having adjacent corners thereof; a spring member having-one end thereof engageable with said cam member and having the remaining end thereof secured to said plate; said eccentric mounting point of said cam member on said plate being equidistant. with respect to said lug members whereby said'line enbe positioned gagingsurface of said cam member may equidistant from said adjacent lug members. 7

4. The device of claim 3 further characterized by the fact that said line engaging surfaces of said cam members comprise serrations.

References Cited in thefile of this: patentv UNITED STATES PATENTS r 11,843 Hendey Feb. 14, 1371 1,399,647 Oppman Dec. 6, 1921' 1,766,488 Crapo June. 24, 1 930 2,435,447 Kortum Feb. 3, 1948 2,620,534 Berger Dec. 9, 1952 

